Tag Archives: Lavrov

After eight years of George Bush, relations between the United States and Russia have deteriorated to the point where the two nations have been unable to cooperate in dealing with many issues such as towards Iran. American Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov exchanged greetings, but there is an opportunity aside from formal greetings to engage Russia in assisting the world. Russia has as much to be concerned about the emergence of a powerful nuclear Iran as does the United States. Russia has a large Muslim population and it would damage Russian interests for Iran to become a powerful nation that might appeal to disgruntled Muslims inside Russia. The government of Vladmir Putin does not like terrorists anymore than does the United States. The authoritarian tendencies of Putin and Medvedev feel threatened by the presence of terrorist groups within its borders

Step one in any American and Russian move toward friendly relations must entail ending the Bush plans to construct missile bases in Poland and the Czech Republic as well as furthering NATO’s thrust into east Europe. The United States must pay attention to the national interests and concerns of Russia by ending Bush provocation and enlisting Russian support in dealing with Iran and the Middle East. Russia can be an ally once Bush views toward the world cease to be the face of America.

In the midst of financial crises, a vice presidential nominee in the United States who doesn’t know the meaning of the Bush Doctrine and her knowledge of Russia consists of going to the movies or looking out the window, a new significant issue is gripping the world — what did Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov say to British Foreign Secretary David Miliband? The Daily Telegraph insists the transcript of phone conversations between British and Russian leaders during the crisis in Georgia was so laden with obscenities that is has been difficult putting together a transcript. In Moscow, a spokesperson denied the accusation and said there was a campaign to “attain political ends by pouring oil on the flames of hysteria surrounding Russian actions in the Caucasus.”

Unfortunately, there appears to be some miscommunication in the Russian Foreign Office because Lavrov publicly admitted he used some rather choice words to express himself while engaged in conversations with Miliband. However, Lavrov insists, he simply quoted to Miliband what a “European source” said about Saakashvili who was described as a “F—— lunatic.”

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov made it clear his nation would not be bullied by the West and intended to be completely in charge of its own territory as well as its foreign affairs. He made it clear to the Britsh government that the British Council which promotes cultural and education ties is closed down for failing to obtain legal authorization to function. Lavrov was also critical of US plans for missile bases in Poland and the Czech Republic which Russia views as a direct threat to its own defenses. London believes the action against the Council is a response to the dispute which arose between the two nations following the 2006 murder in London of Alexander Litvinenko, a Russian dissident. It is still unclear exactly what is the crime of the Council except in being British.

Lavov went on to denounce European and American decisions to support the aspirations of Kosovo for independence from Serbia. In addition to its close ties with Serbia, the Russian government is generally opposed to separatist movements, particularly since so many areas of the former Soviet Union left to become independent nationsl. One wonders if George Bush still believes after gazing into the eyes of President Putin he saw a man with whom he could negotiate.